Deck 16: Appraising Quantitative Research

Question 1

What is indicated by the following statement,found in the report of a quantitative nursing research study,"By formalizing parenting education in the immediate postpartum period,midwives may have the opportunity to reduce the prevalence of postnatal depression"?

A) Results
B) Analysis
C) Implications
D) Recommendations

Answer 1

Implications

Question 2

What is suggested by the following statement found in the study by Koenes and Karshmer titled "Depression: a comparison study between blind and sighted adolescents? " "The fact that the inventory [instrument] was administered verbally introduced a potential bias of social desirability."

A) Implications for practice
B) Limitations of the study
C) Generalizability of the study
D) Recommendations for future research

Answer 2

Limitations of the study

Question 3

Which critical appraisal question would evaluate the review of the literature of a research report?

A) Is there a synthesis summary that presents the overall strengths and weaknesses and arrives at a logical conclusion that generates hypotheses or research questions?
B) What are the sources of bias, and are they dealt with appropriately?
C) How have the purpose, aims, or goals of the study been substantiated?
D) To what population may the findings be generalized? What are the limitations in generalizability?

Answer 3

Is there a synthesis summary that presents the overall strengths and weaknesses and arrives at a logical conclusion that generates hypotheses or research questions?

Question 4

In evaluating quantitative research,a researcher can expect to review the report's segments in which order?
A.Methods
B.Introduction
C.Literature review
D.Discussion
E.Results

A) a, b, c, d, e
B) b, a, c, d, e
C) e, d, d, b, a
D) b, c, a, e, d

Question 5

What makes the study by Koenes and Karshmer titled "Depression: a comparison study between blind and sighted adolescents" nonexperimental versus experimental in design?

A) The sample size was small.
B) The two samples were not equal in size.
C) The dependent variable was not manipulated.
D) The independent variable was not manipulated.

Question 6

What should be a part of the critique of a quantitative research report?

A) Applying the findings in clinical practice
B) Summarizing the major steps of the research process
C) Constructively evaluating a study for its strengths and weaknesses
D) Determining whether the phenomenon studied by participants can be recognized as their own

Question 7

Why is it significant that other nurses evaluate the scientific merit of quantitative nursing research studies?

A) To diversify the focus of nursing
B) To broaden the base for nursing practice
C) To demonstrate that nursing is a true science as well as a discipline
D) To ensure that nursing research does not borrow from other disciplines

Question 8

Which statement evaluating a quantitative research study report deals with scientific merit?

A) The sample size was appropriate for the statistical tests used.
B) The study had one independent variable and two dependent variables.
C) Data described in narrative form within the text could have been more concise in a table.
D) The discussion was excessive in length.

Question 9

In a study by Koenes and Karshmer titled "Depression: a comparison study between blind and sighted adolescents," no hypothesis is present.Does the lack of a hypothesis in this study represent a weakness? Why or why not?

A) Not a weakness; study is descriptive.
B) Not a weakness; study is quasi-experimental.
C) Is a weakness; study is descriptive.
D) Is a weakness; study is quasi-experimental.

Question 10

What is the most accurate interpretation of the following statement found in a study abstract? "There was a negative relationship between infants with difficult behavioral styles and maternal involvement."

A) The more difficult the infant was, the more involved the mother was.
B) The more difficult the infant was, the less involved the mother was.
C) The less difficult the infant was, the less involved the mother was.
D) There was no relationship between infant behavior and maternal involvement.

Question 11

What makes the study by Christman et al.titled "Continuous handrail support,oxygen uptake,and heart rate in women during submaximal step treadmill exercise" quasi-experimental in design versus experimental?

A) The sample size was small.
B) Randomization was not used in sample selection.
C) The dependent variables were not manipulated.
D) The independent variables were not manipulated.

Question 12

How should a research consumer evaluate the following statement in a research report? "A positive correlation was found between the variables of self-reported sleep adequacy and performance on the driving simulator (r = 0.21),although the correlation did not reach statistical significance."

A) No relationship exists between the two variables.
B) The hypothesis was supported by the data presented.
C) The hypothesis was not supported by the data presented.
D) The relationship between the variables is too weak to have practical application.

Question 13

Which should be addressed in both the problem statement and the purpose of a quantitative research study report?

A) Generalizability
B) Sampling procedure
C) Implications for future research
D) Relationship between the variables

Question 14

Which critical appraisal question would evaluate the research question and hypothesis of a research report?

A) Is there a synthesis summary that presents the overall strengths and weaknesses and arrives at a logical conclusion that generates hypotheses or research questions?
B) What are the sources of bias, and are they dealt with appropriately?
C) How have the purpose, aims, or goals of the study been substantiated?
D) To what population may the findings be generalized? What are the limitations in generalizability?

Question 15

Which change in sample selection procedures for the study by Koenes and Karshmer titled "Depression: a comparison study between blind and sighted adolescents" would have had the greatest impact in making the sample of blind adolescents more homogeneous?

A) Elimination of subjects taking prescription medications
B) Narrowing the age range of subjects to those between 13 and 18 years
C) Having the same person administer the questionnaire to all subjects
D) Not telling the subjects the nature of the study

Question 16

Which change in sample selection procedure for the study by Christman et al.titled "Continuous handrail support,oxygen uptake,and heart rate in women during submaximal step treadmill exercise" would have had the greatest impact on increasing the generalizability of the results?

A) Increasing the sample size
B) Including subjects who smoke in the study
C) Having a true control group rather than having subjects serve as their own controls
D) Expanding the sample population to include equal numbers of women who were moderately fit and highly fit

Question 17

Which statement evaluating a quantitative research study report deals with style?

A) The sample size was appropriate for the statistical tests used.
B) The study had one independent variable and two dependent variables.
C) Data described in narrative form within the text could have been more concise in a table.
D) The data presented support the direction of the primary hypothesis.

Question 18

What is the significance of the following statement found in a study's abstract? "This research was an exploratory descriptive investigation of the pregnancy experiences of a multiethnic group of pregnant adolescents."

A) Aims
B) Design
C) Significance
D) Implications

Question 19

What term represents the ability of the researcher to determine which content of a nursing research study is most important to communicate to the profession?

A) Constructive evaluation
B) Personal judgment
C) Scientific merit
D) Personal merit

Question 20

Where in a report of a quantitative research study would you expect the gaps or conflicts about the phenomenon studied to be identified?

A) Analysis of data
B) Research design
C) Problem statement
D) Review of the literature

Question 21

A nurse researcher critiques a research study where the author says descriptive statistics are used.The researcher should expect to see statistics such as (select all that apply):

A) Standard deviations
B) Modes
C) Percentages
D) Chi-squares
E) Means

Question 22

A nursing student is critiquing a research study on the effects of test anxiety reduction and a review course on National Council Licensure Examination-Registered Nurse (NCLEX-RN)success rates of graduate nurses.The student notes several threats to internal validity.These threats affect the accuracy of which variables? (Select all that apply.)

A) NCLEX success rates
B) Test anxiety reduction
C) Graduate nurses
D) Review course
E) Type of nursing program

Question 23

Nurse researchers are conducting a study looking at increasing ankle strength in frail elderly patients.In measuring ankle strength,what are some possible best approaches? (Select all that apply.)

A) A physiologic measure called mechanical force transducer
B) Observation of elder gait
C) Self-report of ankle strength
D) Measurement of ankle diameter
E) Reported occurrences of falling

Question 24

Which critical appraisal question would evaluate the data analysis of a research report?

A) Would it be possible to replicate this study in another clinical setting?
B) Are the results of each hypothesis or research question presented and presented objectively?
C) Did testing of the hypothesis(es) or research question(s) clearly support or not support each hypothesis or research question?
D) Was there an observation guide?

Question 25

A nurse researcher is critically appraising a research report and asks the question "Is the format appropriate for use with this population? " Which data-collection methods and procedures would this question evaluate?

A) Physiologic measurement
B) Questionnaires
C) Available data records
D) Observation

Question 26

A nurse researcher is critically appraising a research report and asks the question "What provision is made for maintaining accuracy of the instrument and its use,if any? " Which data-collection methods and procedures would this question evaluate?

A) Physiologic measurement
B) Questionnaires
C) Available data records
D) Observation

Question 27

Evaluating a research report for issues of scientific merit includes factors such as: (select all that apply):

A) Quality of data collection
B) Appropriateness of statistical analysis
C) Comprehensiveness of literature review
D) Design match to research question
E) Presentation of typeface in article

Question 28

Which critical appraisal question would evaluate the conclusions,implications,and recommendations of a research report?

A) Would it be possible to replicate this study in another clinical setting?
B) Are the results of each hypothesis or research question presented and presented objectively?
C) Did testing of the hypothesis(es) or research question(s) clearly support or not support each hypothesis or research question?
D) Was there an observation guide?

Question 29

Which critical appraisal question would evaluate the data-collection methods and procedures of a research report?

A) Would it be possible to replicate this study in another clinical setting?
B) Are the results of each hypothesis or research question presented and presented objectively?
C) Did testing of the hypothesis(es) or research question(s) clearly support or not support each hypothesis or research question?
D) Was there an observation guide?

Question 30

Which critical appraisal question would evaluate the sampling of a research report?

A) Is there a synthesis summary that presents the overall strengths and weaknesses and arrives at a logical conclusion that generates hypotheses or research questions?
B) What are the sources of bias, and are they dealt with appropriately?
C) How have the purpose, aims, or goals of the study been substantiated?
D) To what population may the findings be generalized? What are the limitations in generalizability?

Question 31

A nurse researcher is critically appraising a research report and asks the question "Is a rationale given for why a particular instrument or method was selected? " Which data-collection methods and procedures would this question evaluate?

A) Physiologic measurement
B) Interviews
C) Available data records
D) Observation

Question 32

Which critical appraisal question would evaluate the applicability to nursing practice of a research report?

A) Would it be possible to replicate this study in another clinical setting?
B) Are the results of each hypothesis or research question presented and presented objectively?
C) Did testing of the hypothesis(es) or research question(s) clearly support or not support each hypothesis or research question?
D) Was there an observation guide?

Question 33

A critique accompanying a quantitative research study states,"Data collection appears consistent and systematic throughout the study." What aspects of methodology would add to this critique analysis? (Select all that apply.)

A) Incorporation of a validated and reliable instrument
B) Training of data collectors
C) Citation of a variety of research articles
D) Reported evidence of interrater reliability
E) A graphic conceptual model

Question 34

A nurse researcher is critically appraising a research report and asks the question "Was interrater reliability calculated? " Which data collection methods and procedures would this question evaluate?

A) Physiologic measurement
B) Interviews
C) Available data records
D) Observation

Question 35

A nurse researcher is critically appraising a research report and asks the question "What sources of bias are possible with use of records or existing data sets? " Which data-collection methods and procedures would this question evaluate?

A) Physiologic measurement
B) Interviews
C) Available data records
D) Questionnaires

Question 36

Which critical appraisal question would evaluate the research question and hypothesis of a research report?

A) Is there a synthesis summary that presents the overall strengths and weaknesses and arrives at a logical conclusion that generates hypotheses or research questions?
B) What are the sources of bias, and are they dealt with appropriately?
C) How have the purpose, aims, or goals of the study been substantiated?
D) To what population may the findings be generalized? What are the limitations in generalizability?